Newton Mine, Ione, Amador County

Located three and a half miles east of Ione. The Newton Mine was located early in 1863 during the states first copper boom, and was worked extensively after that date and in 1889 a smelter was shipped as for as Liverpool, England.

Total mine production to the end of 1946 is 5,461,132 pounds of copper. The mine has been idle since August 1, 1947.

The headframe and hopper of the long abandoned Newton Mine, a copper mine outside of the town of Jackson, California. The structure looks sturdy enough, but close examination reveals that time has taken its toll, and will probably collapse in the not too distant future.

Old mining equipment lies abandoned, rusting, and returning to the Earth at the site of the Newton Mine. Exploring the hills around the mine reveal a number of interesting artifacts at this former copper mine outside of Jackson, California.

An old and rusty smokestack still stands at the site of the Newton Mine, and abandoned copper mine near the town of Jackson, California. This was the smelter used to refine the copper that was mined. Today you see much debris around it's base, mostly old and rusty machinery.

Detail of the smoke stack (smelter) door where fuel was loaded to keep the fire going.

The copper craze hit Amador County sometime in 1861. The Newton Copper Mine was a 1,000 foot claim running north and south between what became known as Copper Hill and Oak Hill on the South. Dr. Newton of Ione began sinking the shaft around 1863. By 1881 the Newton Mine being extensivly mined. The shaft at that time was about 430 feet and then owned by a Boston Company.